Wednesday, 23 April 2014

Ryan Heath with University of Cumbria Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Strike

Ryan Heath once lost his job for publishing a book with a
swear word in the title.

But that same decision made him stand out from the crowd
enough to secure his current role, which he describes as “the most fulfilling
professional relationship of my life”.

The lesson? Be different, be true to yourself, and believe
in the power of words to make a difference.

Personal qualities

With a talk entitled 'Leading with Words in a System Stacked
Against You', Ryan delivered the second IFLAS public lecture of the spring
season.

Speaking to MBA students and other guests, he outlined the
personal qualities he believes enable individuals to become agents of change
within complex organisations.

The spokesperson for European Commission Vice President
Neelie Kroes, Ryan (an Australian) told guests that as an ‘outsider’ in Europe,
four key qualities have allowed him to gain influence and make change:

Optimism: “If you’re a
pessimist you probably don’t think there are a lot of ways to make the
world better.”

Bravery: “You need to be
willing to take risks with ideas and risks exploring the edge of your own
talent. The obvious practical example is that you have to be willing to
lose your job.” (Ryan has lost three jobs through speaking his mind, but
that ultimately led him to a role where his views were valued).

Self-trust: “You have to
look after yourself, because no one else is going to. And you shouldn’t
worry about making enemies; if you’re not getting some people off side
you’re not making a difference.”

Being different and proud:
“You need to be different in order to get the chance to make a change in a
big organisation.”

The power of words
and the political ends they can be put to

A great speech can transform the world. Ryan points out that
orators like John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, or more
recently Barack Obama have used the power of words to bring about change.

Ryan understands this power - and so does his boss, Neelie
Kroes.

But he points out that many leaders in the corporate sector
fail to grasp the importance of being part of a dialogue.

Ryan Heath speaking at IFLAS

Ryan said: “The quality of public thought from our executive
class is very poor indeed. These leaders don’t see themselves as corporate
citizens who contribute to a democratic atmosphere – they enter the debate to
promote or defend numbers or lobby for a particular interest.”

When Kroes was European Commissioner for Competition, she
confronted the leaders of the finance sector head-on when they failed to join
the public discourse on banking following the bail-outs of 2008 and 2009.

She told them: “I am here to listen, not to please. Some
banks may be too big to fail, but they are not too big to restructure. Some
banks are still in denial. If it takes some tough love to face up to your
responsibilities, then that’s what I’m prepared to offer. The banking sector is
in no position to lecture governments right now and the public is in no mood to
listen.”

Ryan said: “By holding the dam wall against the banks in
2009 we saved taxpayers billions of Euros and made it possible to create the
‘banking union’ that has just been written in to law. This could not have
happened if Neelie Kroes did not lead with words every day.”

Now Kroes is European Commissioner for Digital Issues, Ryan
and his boss encounter similarly blinkered corporate leaders.

Facebook bosses Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg come in
for particular criticism for their approach to addressing some of the world’s
problems.

Ryan said: “The problem is that the answer is always ‘more
Facebook’.”

Bill Gates is an exception among digital leaders, Ryan says,
because he is prepared to step away from his immediate context within Microsoft
in order to innovate.

And Kroes continues to use the power of words to fight for
causes she believes in – such as calling a group of Vodafone executives ‘a
roomful of thieves’ when they complained about plans to ban mobile roaming
charges in Europe.

Although Ryan’s experiences centre on government, his ideas
are relevant to any individual in a large organisation – like the sustainability
leaders studying programmes with IFLAS.

Ryan said: “We need to keep power accountable and explain
that to its face. Leaders need to talk to people directly and advisers must
dare to give honest advice in private so that better decisions can be made in public.
If you can contribute to that then you can make a difference in a system
stacked against you.”

These inspirational ideas also lie at the heart of the IFLAS
agenda – as we search for ways to challenge conventional views and find new
ways to move towards fairer and more sustainable societies.

Monday, 7 April 2014

Our open lecture series brings international leaders to the
Lake District.

Ryan Heath

This Tuesday (April 8) we welcome the European Commission’s spokesperson
on Digital Issues. Ryan Heath is also former speechwriter for EC head Manuel Barroso. Our Vice Chancellor and many staff and MBA students will attend. It’s free and
starts with drinks at 5pm in the Heelis Room of Charlotte Mason building, at our
Ambleside Campus. Sign up via iflas@cumbria.ac.uk. More info at: www.cumbria.ac.uk/iflasevents

Inaugural Report

A summary of what we do, who we are, and the achievements in
our first year of activity is now available. If you would like hard copies, just
ask iflas@cumbria.ac.uk

We also have an updated website,
featuring all our lovely staff, associates and advisors.

Inaugural Professorial Lecture

“Exploring Sustainability” was the topic of Professor
Bendell’s Inaugural Lecture at the Words by the Water festival in Keswick.

During questions, Professor Bendell explained an initiative
to create a local currency for Cumbria, which then generated media coverage. The first meeting of
the currency working group is hosted by IFLAS on July 14th. Contact leander.bindewald@neweconomics.org for
more information.

We are grateful to Impact International and Cumberland
Building Society for sponsoring the Inaugural.

New Book: Healing Capitalism

The comprehensive introduction to the new book by Prof
Bendell and Ian Doyle, called “Healing Capitalism” is available for
free download.

Inspiring Sustainability Leadership in Educators

It’s time to inspire Europe’s youth for sustainability. The
proposal to train educators in sustainability leadership, with 10 partners
across the EU, has been welcomed by the EC. Now IFLAS, CDEC and our partners
need to find 15% of 3.7 million Euros in match funding in the next month to
make this project a reality. We would really welcome any introductions to
relevant funders, to help us reach this target match funding. Please email jem.bendell@cumbria.ac.uk

New IFLAS Deputy Director: Dr David Murphy

Dr David Murphy

IFLAS is growing. Dr David Murphy joined as our Deputy
Director in March. He was formerly with the UN System Staff College and has
vast international experience in training senior executives, so is already
supporting our residential courses. Way
back in 1997 Dr Murphy and Jem Bendell co-wrote the first book on sustainability partnerships,
which is available for free.

IFLAS in Media

Prof Jem Bendell on BBC Breakfast

University of Cumbria has become world famous for being the
first public university in the world to accept Bitcoin as payment of fees for
two courses that relate to currency innovation. In the UK this included Professor
Bendell appearing on the BBC Breakfast and the Chris Evans radio show. Google
the words Bitcoin and Cumbria to see the hundreds of media outlets around the
world that covered the story. You can study this topic within the Certificate of Achievement in Sustainable Exchange.

Rural Growth Hub Launch

Lord Digby Jones

IFLAS is reaching out to local businesses and NGOs, via the
University’s new Rural Growth Hub in Ambleside. It will be launched by Lord
Digby Jones on April 22nd. To join us, email iflas@cumbria.ac.uk

London Campus Launch

On the edge of the Docklands, the University of Cumbria has
its London Campus. Later this year IFLAS will be offering a course at this
campus on its Post Graduate Certificate for Sustainable Leadership. The launch of the London Campus will on Tuesday 24th June 3pm - 5pm, with
speakers including Sir George Iacobescu CBE. To attend, email iflas@cumbria.ac.uk

Learnfest

Once again IFLAS is working with our partners Impact
International by presenting at their unique organisational development festival
on the shores of Windermere. The festival runs for three days from June 10. See
more at www.learnfest.co.uk

Scholarship Winners

There are two winners of scholarships for the PGC in Sustainable Leadership, which
starts with a residential in the Lake District on September 1 for one week. We
will announce the winners next week. This qualification can be studied for in a
highly flexible way, to fit around your work schedule, and will include a cohort
of sustainability leaders.

Harvard Insights

The “Sustainable Leaders” LinkedIn group
has seen some lively informed discussion in the past months. Recently, during
his leadership training at Harvard Kennedy School, Prof Bendell blogged thoughts
for the group to discuss. The discussion of whether “Nudge Theory” is relevant
to sustainability leadership has exploded!

London PhD Symposium

On July 7, Prof Bendell and IFLAS Doctoral Researcher
Leander Bindewald are hosting a PhD Symposium on complementary currencies at
the London Campus. For more information email leander.bindewald@cumbria.ac.uk

Transition Towns Northern Conference

We are delighted to host the Transition Towns network’s
first major conference in the North of England, at our Campus in the centre of
Lancaster. It happens on July 12th, and a programme will be
available soon. To register interest, email iflas@cumbria.ac.uk. This is the latest in IFLAS engagement with the community on sustainability,
following up our hosting of the Lancaster Ethical Small Traders
Association in February.

New Doctoral Researchers

Leander Bindewald is one of our two new Doctoral Researchers.
His PhD title is “The Practice of Community Currencies and the Critical Examination
of the Discourse of Money”. Professor Bendell and Dr Audrey Slight supervise
his PhD. He is joined by Eren Ozturk MSc, a Strategic Sustainability
Practitioner in a Turkish sustainability advisory company (www.s360.com.tr). His PhD title is “Organisations as Living Complex Systems: Daily Business
Practices Inspired by Natural Processes and Flows”. Professor Bendell and Dr
Kate Rawles supervise his PhD.

Bitcoin and Asia

Recently dubbed Professor Bitcoin in the media, Professor
Bendell will be presenting about currency innovation and implications for
sustainable development, at the World Economic Forum in Philippines at the end
of May. More information at: http://ocean14.asia/